Regional leaders visit Kuwait to pay respects to late emir

New ruler Sheikh Nawaf receives leaders from Jordan, Egypt, Oman, Bahrain and Iraq

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid meets Kuwait's new Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al Sabah to offer condolences following the death of Sheikh Sabah, at the Emiri Terminal of Kuwait International Airport. AFP

Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary General of the Arab League, offers condolences to Kuwait's new Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al Sabah, at Kuwait international airport's emiri terminal in the capital. AFP

Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al Sabah receives condolences from Iraqi parliament speaker Mohammed Al Halbousi in Kuwait City. AFP

US Defence Secretary Mark Esper with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Ahmad Nasser Al Sabah, before meeting the new emir Sheikh Nawaf Al Sabah, to offer condolences on behalf of President Donald Trump on the passing of its emir Sheikh Sabah in Kuwait City, Kuwait. AFP

Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al Sabah receives condolences from British Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace in Kuwait City. AFP

Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al Sabah receiving condolences from Britain's Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, in Kuwait City. AFP

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi offers condolences on behalf of his government to Kuwait's new emir Sheikh Nawaf Al Sabah, at Kuwait international airport's emiri terminal in the capital. AFP

Lebanon's former prime minister Saad Hariri meets Kuwait's new Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al Sabah and to offer condolences, at the Emiri Terminal of Kuwait International Airport. AFP

Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al Sabah receiving condolences from Comorian President Azali Assoumani in Kuwait City. AFP

Jordan's King Abdullah II and his son Crown Prince Hussein offering their condolences to the Kuwaiti royal family, at the emiri terminal of Kuwait International Airport. AFP

Jordan's King Abdullah II meets Kuwait's new Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al Sabah and offers condolences, at the Emiri Terminal of Kuwait International Airport. AFP

Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, centre, arrives for the funeral of Kuwait's late ruler Sheikh Sabah at the Bilal bin Rabah Mosque in Kuwait City. AFP

Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, UAE's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, conveys condolences of UAE leaders to the new Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al Sabah on the death of Sheikh Sabah. Wam

Nasser Sabah Al Sabah, centre left, the son of the late Kuwaiti ruler Sheikh Sabah, receives condolences from Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, UAE's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, centre right, at the Bilal bin Rabah Mosque in Kuwait City. AFP

Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, left, meets Kuwait's new Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al Sabah, right, and offers condolences to the latter at the Emiri Terminal of Kuwait International Airport. AFP

Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al Sabah receives Bahrain's Prince Salman bin Hamad, who offered condolences on the passing of the late Sheikh Sabah. Kuwait News Agency

Iraq's President Barham Salih offers condolences to Kuwait's new Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al Sabah on the death of late Emir Sheikh Sabah, in Kuwait City, Kuwait. Kuwait News Agency via Reuters

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, left, meets Kuwait's new Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al Sabah, right, and offers condolences to the latter at the Emiri Terminal of Kuwait International Airport. AFP

Rua Al Zadjali, centre, and Amal Ali from the Oman Embassy in London sign a book of condolence at the Kuwait Embassy in London with the Kuwait ambassador Khaled Al Duwaisan looking on, following the death of the Emir of Kuwait. Stephen Lock for the National

Former Kuwait Ambassador to Greece Raed Al Rifai signs a book of condolence at the Kuwait Embassy in London, following the death of the emir of Kuwait. Stephen Lock for the National

Rua Al Zadjali from the Oman Embassy in London signs a book of condolence at the Kuwait Embassy in London following the death of the emir of Kuwait. Stephen Lock for the National

King Abdullah of Jordan and Oman's Sultan Haitham were among regional leaders who arrived in Kuwait in Thursday to offer their condolences on the passing of the late Emir, Sheikh Sabah.

Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Iraq's President Barham Salih also travelled to Kuwait convey their sympathies.

Sheikh Sabah's death on Tuesday at the age of 91 started an outpouring of condolences and tributes from world leaders.

Known as the "prince of diplomacy and humanity", he had ruled Kuwait since 2006 and steered its foreign policy for more than 35 years before that.

US Ambassador to UN Adlai Stevenson with Talat Ghoussein, Charge d'Affaires of Kuwait Embassy and then Kuwaiti foreign minister Sheikh Sabah, at Kuwaiti reception at UN. Getty Images

Sheikh Sabah, Kuwait's foreign minister between 1963 and 2003, and Khalid Jaffar, Kuwait's ambassador to London, with Sir Neville Bland Of the UK Foreign Office in 1964. Rex Features

US president Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger, secretary of state, meet Arab foreign ministers Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria, Sheikh Sabah of Kuwait and Omar Saqqaf of Saudi Arabia on October 17, 1973 at the Oval Office in Washington, United States. AFP

French president Jacques Chirac shakes hands with Sheikh Sabah at the Elysee Palace in Paris on September 7, 1998. AFP

Kuwait's foreign minister Sheikh Sabah, commerce minister Abdel Wahab Al Wazzan and finance and communications minister Sheikh Ahmad open the Gulf state's free trade zone in November 1999. AFP

Sheikh Sabah kisses a Palestinian boy at a hospital in October 2000. Sheikh Sabah visited five Palestinians who had arrived in Kuwait for medical care. AFP

Kuwaiti's first deputy premier, foreign minister and chairman of the Supreme Petroleum Council Sheikh Sabah visits injured oil workers following a blast at the Al Rawdhatain oilfield north of Kuwait, near the border with Iraq. Four people were killed and 19 others injured. AFP

Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri talks to Kuwait's deputy premier and foreign minister Sheikh Sabah during the opening session of the Arab leader's summit in Sharm El Sheikh in March 2003. AFP

Kuwaiti prime minister Sheikh Sabah performs a Kuwaiti traditional dance during the inauguration of a naval base in Kuwait in 2004. AFP

US president George W Bush shakes hands with Kuwait's prime minister Sheikh Sabah in the Oval Office of the White House in July 2005. Reuters

Sheikh Sabah welcomes Sultan Qaboos of Oman to Kuwait City in June 2005 at the start of a three-day official visit. AFP

Sheikh Saad, Sheikh Salem, chief of Kuwait's national guard, and prime minister Sheikh Sabah receive condolences on the death of Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Jaber at the Al Bayan Palace on January 17, 2006 in Kuwait City. AFP

Sheikh Sabah meets Jordan's King Abdullah in September 2008. Reuters

Chinese President Hu Jintao walks with Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah during a welcoming ceremony held at the Great Wall of the People in Beijing, China in May 2009. EPA

Sheikh Sabah arrives with UAE President, Sheikh Khalifa at the final session of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in Kuwait City on December 15, 2009. AFP

President Sheikh Khalifa with Sheikh Sabah at the GCC Summit in the UAE in December 2010. EPA

Sheikh Sabah at the December 2010 GCC Summit. EPA

Sheikh Sabah is welcomed by Crown Prince Naruhito prior to their official dinner at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo in 2012. Reuters

Sheikh Sabah chats with Queen Elizabeth II as he arrives at Windsor Castle during a three-day state visit on November 27, 2012. Getty Images

Sheikh Khalifa meets Sheikh Sabah in Al Ain on October 3, 2012. AFP

Sheikh Sabah with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed in 2014. Ryan Carter / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid receives Sheikh Sabah at the Presidential Airport. Seen with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Sabah Al Khalid of Kuwait, November 07, 2014. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed with Sheikh Sabah at Abu Dhabi's Presidential Airport in October 2014. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

US president Barack Obama shakes hands with Sheikh Sabah at Camp David in May 2015. EPA

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid meet with Sheikh Sabah at Zabeel Palace, June 7, 2017. Rashed Al Mansoori / Crown Prince Court

US President Donald Trump shakes hands with the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, on September 5, 2018. AFP

Sheikh Sabah meets Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas during the 2013 Arab-African Summit in Kuwait. Getty Images

Sheikh Sabah is received by Bahrain's King Hamad upon his arrival in Bahrain for the GCC summit in December 2016. Reuters

Sheikh Sabah and Saudi Arabia's King Salman in Jeddah on June 6, 2017. Reuters

Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah greets the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Kuwait in September 2018. Reuters

King Abdullah II of Jordan attending a meeting in Mecca with King Salman of Saudi Arabia, Emir Sheikh Sabah of Kuwait and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE. AFP

Sheikh Sabah at the Kuwait National Assembly in October 2019. EPA

"The Arab and Muslim nations lost a wise leader who was dedicated to serving his people and defending Arab and Islamic causes," King Abdullah told Kuwait's new ruler, Sheikh Nawaf, brother of Sheikh Sabah.

King Abdullah was accompanied by Jordan's Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah and members of government and senior officials including Prime Minister Omar Razzaz, Senate President Faisal Fayez and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Jordan's Petra news agency reported.

Sultan Haitham, Mr Salih and Mr El Sisi were also accompanied by high-level delegations and were received at the Emiri Terminal by Sheikh Nawaf, Kuna reported.

Sheikh Sabah was buried on Wednesday after his body was flown home from the US, where he had been receiving treatment since July.

UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, visited Kuwait on Wednesday to convey the country's respects.

The President, Sheikh Khalifa, ordered funeral prayers for Sheikh Sabah at mosques across the UAE after asr prayers on Thursday, the state news agency Wam reported.

The Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, ordered that the emirate's corniche street be renamed after Sheikh Sabah.

The move was recognition of the great services Sheikh Sabah  performed for "his homeland, the sisterly state of Kuwait and the whole world", Wam reported.

"It is also an acknowledgement of the great role that Sheikh Sabah played before the establishment of the UAE Union and his direct follow-up to many of Kuwait's development initiatives in the region."

The head of the International islamic Charity Organization, Abdullah al-Maatouq, leads prayers over the body of the late emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah upon its arrival for burial at the Bilal bin Rabah Mosque. AFP

Officials, mask-clad due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, carrying the bier of the late emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah upon its arrival for burial at the Sulaibikhat Cemetery. AFP

Officials, mask-clad due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, carrying the bier of the late emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah upon its arrival for burial at the Sulaibikhat Cemetery. AFP

Officials, mask-clad due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, carrying the bier of the late emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah upon its arrival for burial at the Sulaibikhat Cemetery. AFP

Kuwait's new Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah (C-L, in black), mask-clad due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, walking next to the bier of the late emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah upon its arrival for burial at the Sulaibikhat Cemetery.

People perform funeral prayers at the body of the late Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Sabah in Kuwait City, Kuwait. Reuters

People perform funeral prayers at the body of the late Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Sabah in Kuwait City, Kuwait. Reuters

The body of Kuwait's late Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Sabah, who died after medical treatment in US, arrives in Kuwait City, Kuwait. Reuters

The body of Kuwait's late Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Sabah, who died after medical treatment in US, arrives in Kuwait City, Kuwait. Reuters

People carry the body of the late Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Sabah after funeral prayers in Kuwait City, Kuwait. Reuters

Kuwaiti national flags fly at half-mast in mourning the death of Kuwait's Emir, Sheikh Sabah Al Sabah, in Kuwait City, Kuwait. EPA

Ambulance carrying body of the late Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Sabah arrive at Bilal bin Rabah mosque for funeral prayer in Kuwait City, Kuwait. EPA

Ambulance carrying body of the late Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Sabah arrives at Bilal bin Rabah mosque for funeral prayers in Kuwait City, Kuwait. EPA

Officials and relatives carry the coffin of late Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Sabah for funeral prayers at Bilal bin Rabah mosque in Kuwait City, Kuwait. EPA